204 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
vision very defective and inferior to that of 
the common mole. 
In some of the mole-rats the eyes are of a 
rudimentary nature, one species called the 
strand-mole (Bathyergus) having such minute 
ones that they are no larger than the head of 
a pin ; while the great mole-rat is even worse off 
for those organs are entirely covered with skin. 
In spite of their name, the mole-rats are 
not related to the moles, the latter belonging 
to the insectivorous order while the former are 
rodents. In external appearance, however, 
they are very like moles—the large head which 
joins the body without any appreciable neck ; 
the soft, short and thick fur that has the curious 
property of lying flat and unruffled no matter 
in which direction it be brushed; and the 
short limbs furnished with powerful claws, all 
being mole-like characteristics. 
Their habits also resemble those of the mole, 
inasmuch as they dwell underground, excavate 
long tunnels, and throw up mounds of earth 
during their progress beneath the soil; but 
unlike the former creature they do not feed 
upon worms, but upon roots and bulbs. 
The great mole-rat is found in South-East 
Europe, Lower Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Meso¬ 
potamia. Its subterranean tunnels are stated 
to be of a very elaborate nature, some of the 
